Local rescue services were kept busy over the Easter holiday, dealing with a series of incidents along the South Pembrokeshire coastline.

Some were relatively minor, others were false alarms, while sadly one ended in tragedy with the death of a holidaymaker.

The incidents began on Saturday morning when several emergency 999 calls were received by HM Coastguard on from people reporting a man in difficulties in the sea at Amroth.

Coastguards from Tenby were tasked to the incident shortly after 11.30 am and the resort's inshore lifeboat crew was also launched.

However, while making their way to the scene, it was reported that the man, who had gone into the water to rescue his dog, had made it back to the shore.

As a result, the ILB crew stood down, but the coastguard team continued on to Amroth, where they spoke with the man concerned, a 41-year-old holidaymaker from Oswestry, and confirmed he was safe and well.

ST. GOVAN'S TRAGEDY

Later that afternoon a holidaymaker disappeared while walking near St. Govan's Head.

The man, from Merseyside, was reported missing by his wife after they had gone in separate directions after visiting St. Govan's Chapel.

Following a comprehensive search involving St. Govan's and Manorbier Coastguard rescue teams, Tenby lifeboat and initially the inshore lifeboat crew, a helicopter from RAF Chivenor and police, the man's body was discovered the following day a short distance along the coast from where he had been walking.

He was later named as Stephen Gutteridge, aged 44, from Liverpool, and had been holidaying in Tenby.

ANGLERS SAFE

A search was also launched on Saturday evening after two people were reported cut off by the tide between Saundersfoot and Amroth.

The coastguard team and the inshore lifeboat crew from Tenby were scrambled after Milford Haven coastguards were alerted by a member of the public shortly before 7 pm.

After searching the coastline, the coastguard team met with the informant who pointed out the two people he was worried about on a rock at Monkstone Point.

Members of the coastguard team subsequently went to investigate and discovered that the two people were in fact anglers and were both safe and well and not in any difficulty.

TEENAGER INJURED

The following afternoon a teenager was taken to hospital after fracturing his leg while paintballing at Heatherton Country Sports Park, St. Florence.

The 14-year-old boy, who was from Llanelli, was attended to by paramedics, before being evacuated from the wooded area, south of the park, by coastguards from Tenby at approximately 4.15 pm.

He was then taken to Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, by ambulance.

CLIMBERS RESCUED

And there was no let up for the emergency services as the week progressed, two climbers being rescued by the coastguard cliff rescue team from Tenby on Tuesday night after getting into difficulties at Lydstep.

The two men had been climbing at Mother Carey's Kitchen, shortly before 9 pm, when they became 'exhausted' and stranded on the cliff face.

A helicopter from RAF Chivenor was scrambled and an ambulance crew and police also attended.

Both from Lancashire, the climbers, one aged 38 and the other 54, were recovered safely to the top of the headland by the cliff rescue team, before being taken to Tenby Cottage Hospital to be checked over.

LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED

The following morning Tenby lifeboat, the RFA Sir Galahad, was launched after a fishing vessel got into difficulties near Saundersfoot.

The 17-foot Dorey-type craft, with three people on board, got into trouble shortly after 10 am whilst angling off Monkstone Point.

One of the three, a 63-year-old man, became sea-sick and it was decided to return to the shore. However, when they went to start the boat, it was discovered that the outboard motor had failed.

With no safety equipment on the vessel, the people on board, who were holidaying in the area and staying at Penally, subsequently used a mobile telephone to alert the emergency rescue services.

The boat was then taken under tow by the lifeboat to Saundersfoot Harbour, where it was met by the coastguards and an ambulance crew, who took the man who was unwell to Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.